Course correction in carriers’ future

Sign On San Diego ^ | 5/23/2010 | Jeanette Steele

[USNBandit]

I won’t name the boat, but I was on a carrier where they lost power to the whole island for a while. We received a request (on the sound powered phone system) to send a hand held gps to the bridge so they could maintain a plot.

[Vince Ferrer]

Actually, I am kind of relieved that the navy isn’t dependent on computers that can be hacked, attacked or blown up and on fire when they are needed.

[neodad]

Of course, they’ll still keep the charts up to date so it will be double work. No captain would risk dropping the load with no back up.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

They can buy a firewall from McAfee

[neodad]

Tangential NAVAIR ping...

[ConorMacNessa]

Agreed - they need to keep those QM's and keep training them for old-time navigation.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Grut]

...“charts” — what sailors call maps....

'Maps' get looked at: 'charts' get written on. Very old distinction.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

Moronic decision if they don't maintain both methods. It's too easy for an enemy to sabotage satellites or use an EMP weapon. If they don't maintain traditional navigation skills and rely only on the gizmos, someone will take advantage, and the results will not be good.

[garyhope]

Gee, you can get a nice cheap GPS at Best Buy for next to nothing.

[Paladin2]

Just ask the pirates the Ruskies let go if they wished they had studied celestial/solar navigation a little harder.

[Former War Criminal]

“True Virgins Make Dull Company At Weddings”

...or, more appropriate for this forum,

“Can Dead Men Vote Twice At Elections”

[The Klingon]

All I need is a fast ship and a star to steer her by.....

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

Actually, I am kind of relieved that the navy isn’t dependent on computers that can be hacked, attacked or blown up and on fire when they are needed.

Ah yes... the Battlestar Galactica syndrome ... :-)

[ConorMacNessa]

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Dead Dog]

Damned right. It’s a war machine not a New England @SSHat’s yacht. That 20 year old with a CHART is the last line between us and slavery.

[James C. Bennett]

I won’t name the boat, but I was on a carrier where they lost power to the whole island for a while. We received a request (on the sound powered phone system) to send a hand held gps to the bridge so they could maintain a plot.

That sounds fascinatingly unbelievable, LOL!

[MinorityRepublican]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/05/world-cup-want-a-cheap-hotel-room.html

Been watching Battlestar Galactica lately?

[MississippiMan]

This reminds me of the behind-the-scenes tour I took at NASA a couple years ago. (The “VIP” tour for $80 or so is some of the best money you’ll ever spend.) In mission control, I noticed that one of the big wall screens had what looked like a DOS command shell up in one corner. I asked what it was for and found out that in today’s space shuttles, commands are entered into the main computer in HEX. Same software that was in use during the Apollo era is in use today. HEX. I kid you not.

MM (in TX)

[B-Cause]

How many folks on any vessels (military or commercial) at sea today know how to get a 3 star fix (with 2 mile accuracy) using a sextant, chronometer, and tables?